BRATISLAVA, March 29, (WEBNOVINY)– Confidence in industry bolstered over the third month of this year. Based on a poll carried out by the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic, the industry confidence indicator rose from minus 1.3 points in February to plus 3 points in March and hit the long-term average. The index was influenced by output growth expected in the next three months.
Outlooks of the industrial output development anticipated for the next three years returned to January’s 22 points, going up by 20 points in the previous month. Manufacturing of means of transport, metals and metallic structures, wood and paper products as well as companies with 1,000 and more employees expect output growth. Considering the classification based on regions, the counties of Nitra and Zilina also are bullish in this respect. On the other hand, decline has been foretold for the chemical industry and distribution of water.
Assessment of trends in industrial output fell 26 points to minus 3 points from the previous months and slipped below the long-term average. Outlooks regarding demand for industrial output came down by 2 points to minus 15 points in March. Decline is expected in production of electrical devices, wood and paper products, PCs, electronic and optical devices. Similar trends occurred in the projections of foreign demand. The outlooks fell by 2 points. Decline is expected in production of electrical devices, wood and paper products, PCs, electronic and optical devices. Supply of electricity, gas and steam is expected to bolster.
Expectations concerning inventory of finished products in industry went up by 5 points from February. The strongest improvement was reported with production of PCs, electrical and optical devices. 81 percent of respondents consider the inventories adequate. Employment outlooks gained 1 point in March. Production of means of transport and supply of electricity, gas and steam are most likely to take on new staff.
SITA
